Georgia, like most states, has its regulations and requirements for its HVAC technicians.
On this page, you’ll learn how you can become a licensed HVAC professional in the state.
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HVAC Programs in Georgia
The HVAC field is a highly technical industry.
That’s why you need educational training and work experience to successfully start a career.
Doing so will set you apart from other candidates, enabling you to receive better employment and salary.
So take a look at the list of HVAC training providers below.
38 HVAC Schools in Georgia
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Ashworth College | Online Training for HVAC | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
Albany Technical College-Early County Campus | 40 Harold Ragan Drive, Blakely, GA 39823 |
Altamaha Technical College | 1777 West Cherry Street, Jesup, GA 31545 |
Anthem College - Atlanta | 2450 Piedmont Road N.E., Atlanta, GA 30324 |
Athens Technical College | 800 Highway, 29 North, Athens, GA 30610 |
Atlanta Technical College | 1560 Metropolitan Parkway, SL, Atlanta, GA 30310 |
Augusta Technical College | 3200 August Tech Drive, Augusta, GA 30906 |
Central Georgia Technical Center | 3300 Macon Technical Drive, Macon, GA 31210 |
640 GA Highway 128, Roberta, GA 31078 | 640 GA Highway 128, Roberta, GA 31078 |
Chattahoochee Technical College | 980 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA 30060 |
Columbus Technical College | 928 Manchester Expressway, Columbus, GA 31904 |
Coosa Valley Vo-Tech School | 466 Brock Road, Rockmart, GA 30153 |
Dekalb Technical College | 495 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021 |
East Central Technical College | 706 West Baker Highway, Douglass, GA 11111 |
Fortis College | HVAC Training | 2108 Cobb Parkway, Smyrna, GA 30080 |
Griffin Technical College | 501 Varsity Road, Griffin, GA 30223 |
Gwinnett Technical College | 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30245 |
Heart of Georgia Technical College | 560 Pinehall Road, Dublin, GA 31021 |
hvacredu.net (Online Training) | P.O. Box 77, Heron, MT 59844 |
Interactive College of Technology | 5303 New Peachtree, Chamblee, GA 30341 |
Lanier Technical College | 990 Landrum Education Drive, Oakwood, GA 30566 |
Laurus Technical Institute | 9500 S. Main Street, Jonesboro, GA 30236 |
Lincoln College of Technology | Marietta, GA 11111 |
Middle Georgia Technical College | 80 Cohen Walker Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088 |
Moultrie Technical College | 800 Veterans parkway N, Moultrie, GA 31788 |
North Georgia Technical College | Burton Road, Clarkeston, GA 30523 |
Northwestern Technical College | PO Box 569, Rock Spring, GA 30739 |
Ogeechee Technical College | 1 Joe Kennedy Blvd., Statesboro, GA 30458 |
Okefenokee Technical College | 1701 Carswell Avenue, Waycross, GA 31501 |
Sandersville Technical College | 1189 Deepstep Road, Sandersville, GA 31082 |
Savannah Technical College | 5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31405 |
South Georgia Technical College | 900 South GATech Pkwy, Americus, GA 31709 |
Southeastern Technical College | 3001 E. First Street, Vidalia, GA 30474 |
Southwest Georgia Technical College | 15689 US Hwy. 19 North, Thomasville, GA 31792 |
Swainsboro Technical College | 201 Kite Road, Swainsboro, GA 30401 |
Valdosta Technical College | 4089 Val Tech Road, Valdosta, GA 31603 |
West Central Technical College/Carroll Campus | 997 S. Highway 16, Carrollton, GA 30116 |
West Georgia Technical College | 303 Fort Drive, LaGrange, GA 30240 |
How to Get Licensed in Georgia
The Georgia Board of Conditioned Air Contractors oversees the regulations and licensing applications.
Anyone granted a license will be entitled “Conditioned Air Contractor.”
Types of Licenses
There are two types of Conditioned Air Contractor license:
Class | Service Coverage | Qualifications |
I (Restricted) | Restricted to conditioned air contracting involving conditioned air systems or equipment not exceeding 175,000 BTU of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling | At least 4 years of documented experience:
Education from an HVAC program may be substituted for experience:
|
II (Non-restricted) | Unrestricted heating and cooling BTU | At least 5 years of documented experience in installations of conditioned air systems exceeding 175,000 BTU (net) of heating and 60,000 BTU of cooling:
Education from an HVAC program may be substituted for experience:
|
Licensing by Examination
The Board requires that you submit your application requirements for pre-approval.
Once they approve it, you will have the eligibility to sit for the exam through the testing partner, PSI/AMP.
Requirements for Initial Application
Each license type has its requirements, which are as follows:
- Class I
- Completed, signed, and notarized application form
- Payment of fees
- Application fee – $30
- Processing fee – $10 for mail-in, $5 for online
- Experience record
- Education verification
- 3 notarized original reference forms from professionally licensed persons
- Registered Architect
- Professional Engineer
- City or County Inspector
- Licensed Conditioned Air Contractor
- Background check from the local law enforcement office
- EPA certification for Type II or higher
- Manuals J and D certification
- Affidavit of Citizenship with a copy of a Secure and Verifiable Document
- If applicable only:
- Qualifying license registration
- Disciplinary actions or sanctions with relevant documents
- Court documents
- Letter of explanation
- Immigration documents
- Class II
- Everything in Class I
- Manuals N and Q certification
Exam Details
PSI/AMP will facilitate a computer-based test for both Class I and II licensure exams.
Both will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions plus 20 pre-test questions in the following content:
- Regulations, laws, and administrative functions
- System design
- Installation
- Maintain and repair system
The exam will be administered in 2 parts, and each part will take 3.5 hours to complete.
To pass, you must have a final scaled score of 70.
Should you fail, you have another 2 attempts to take and pass the exam.
- If you fail twice, submit proof of completion of a Board-approved review course to get admitted to your third exam.
- If you fail thrice, you don’t need to complete additional courses to get admitted to the subsequent exams.
Obtaining the License
PSI/AMP will automatically submit to the Board your test results with a “Pass” or “Fail” indication.
If you’re a successful exam candidate, within 10 days of receiving your results, the Board will change your status in the Pending Application on their website.
Then, within 6 weeks, they will mail the license to your address.
Licensing by Reciprocity
Those with a current, valid license in Louisiana can apply for reciprocity for a Class II license.
You must submit to the Board the following:
- Completed, signed, and notarized application form
- Payment of fees
- Reciprocity fee – $30
- Processing fee – $10 for mail-in, $5 for online
- Experience record
- Out-of-state license verification
- 3 notarized original reference forms from professionally licensed persons
- Background check from the local law enforcement office or private agency
- EPA certification for Type II or higher
- Affidavit of Citizenship with a copy of a Secure and Verifiable Document
- If applicable only:
- Qualifying license registration
- Disciplinary actions or sanctions with relevant documents
- Immigration documents
Effective April 15, 2022, Georgia won’t accept reciprocity applications from South Carolina and Texas until all reciprocal agreements reviews have been completed.
Renewal Requirements
Your license is valid for 2 years only.
To renew it, you can send an application online by November 30 of every odd year.
Requirements for renewal are as follows:
- At least 4 hours of continuing education per year in…
- Safety
- Technological advances
- Business management
- Government regulations
- Payment of renewal fee of $75
- If late renewal, $100
EPA Certification
Aside from the state-level license, you will need to earn a certification from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA Section 608 Technician Certification will prove that you have the competency to work with refrigerants.
Once acquired, it will have lifetime validity.
To learn more about it, visit our guide to EPA certification.
Potential Salary
With the rising demand for HVAC technicians, you can expect to receive highly competitive salaries.
In Georgia, the salary ranges between $29,000 to $75,000, with an average of $49,110 annually per the BLS (May 2021).
The table below shows the salary offers in some of Georgia’s cities.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in Georgia
City Name | Salary |
---|---|
Atlanta | $46,022 |
Augusta-Richmond County | $43,214 |
Columbus | $42,217 |
Savannah | $43,681 |
Athens-Clarke County | $45,695 |
Macon | $43,405 |
Roswell | $45,848 |
Albany | $42,953 |
Marietta | $45,891 |
Warner Robins | $43,274 |
Regional Salary
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albany, GA | 140 | $44,860 | $21.57 | $59,650 | $30,990 |
Athens-Clarke County, GA | 270 | $46,510 | $22.36 | $61,930 | $30,980 |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 6,610 | $57,650 | $27.72 | $80,150 | $37,950 |
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 660 | $50,420 | $24.24 | $71,240 | $31,850 |
Brunswick, GA | 120 | $44,580 | $21.44 | $59,980 | $21,040 |
Columbus, GA-AL | 280 | $46,100 | $22.16 | $61,010 | $29,490 |
Dalton, GA | 120 | $53,250 | $25.6 | $65,680 | $31,200 |
Gainesville, GA | 340 | $49,610 | $23.85 | $66,460 | $33,920 |
Hinesville, GA | 50 | $48,630 | $23.38 | $58,400 | $32,200 |
Macon, GA | 230 | $49,990 | $24.04 | $71,660 | $30,990 |
Rome, GA | 80 | $50,860 | $24.45 | $73,170 | $35,950 |
Savannah, GA | 390 | $49,540 | $23.82 | $70,310 | $31,820 |
Valdosta, GA | 170 | $50,800 | $24.42 | $71,840 | $31,670 |
Warner Robins, GA | 220 | $47,320 | $22.75 | $64,040 | $30,230 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
HVAC Schools by City
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